Extension unit for tractor operated loading attachments



(5. T. BAKER Jan. 19, I954 EXTENSION UNIT FOR TRACTOR OPERATED LOADING ATTACHMENTS Filed Sept. 19 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. GERALD T. BAKER. BY

ATTORNEY.

G. T. BAKER Jan. 19, 1954 EXTENSION UNIT FOR TRACTOR OPERATED LOADING ATTACHMENTS Filed Sept. 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GERALD T. BAKER.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 19, 1954. i

OFFICE,

' EXTENS ION UNIT FOR TRACTOR OPER- AIED LQADING ATTACHMENTS Gerald '1. Baker, FortDodge, Iowa Application September 19, 1951, Serial No. 247,209 A This invention relates generally to a tractor operated loading device, and in particular to a forward extension unit and an associated exj- 'tensible boom for a farm tractor loading attachment to facilitate the handling of hay and 'sim- Y ilar materials. I

An object of this invention is to provide an improved tractoroperated loading'device. j Another object of thi's invention is the provision of aforward extension unit pivotally connected to a tractor loading attachment, the extension unit being movable to a load carrying a 4 Claims. (01. 214-149) position in substantial longitudinal alignment with the'longitudinal axis of the loading attach ment, and to an upright transport positionsubstantially perpendicular to the loading attach ment. 1

- A further object of the present invention'is the provision of an extensible boom for the ext'en sionunit. I According to tension unit comprising a rigid triangular framework is pivotally secured to the forward ends of a pair oflifting arms'which constitute part of a loading attachment which is operated by hydraulic cylinders, the liftingarms being movable between a horizontal and an elevated position during use. The triangular framework engages theunderside of the lifting arms and is releasably latched thereto to form a projecting forwardextension for the attachment. An extensible boom is telescoped within the-framework and may be extended to increase the eITecti-ve length of the framework and, consequently, that of the entire loading attachment. Y

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims; the invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with additional objects andadthe present invention, an ex- With reference to Figure 1, the ioadingatitachment is shown in assembled relationship with a tractor, generally designated 1, including a frame 2, dual front wheels 3 supported on an axle 4, and rear traction wheels 5 carried 'on an axle 6.

' The loading attachment includes a pairof pivoted lifting arms 1 and 8 arranged at opposite sides of the tractor. The lifting arms are of pipe construction and are formed with' flat rear ends 9, supported, between spaced supports It, projecting forwardly from a front clamp plate I6 and pivoted on a pin I2 carried by'supports i9. Clamp plate II and rear clamp plate 13 engage opposite sides of rear axle housing Ba and are held in engagement therewith by bolts-v The lifting arms 7 and 8 extend forwardly of the tractor and are connected together near their front ends l5 by a transverse member 16,. suitably braced with the arms by brace members: I IQ The front ends l5 are flattened and adapted;

to be received between an adjacent side wall I8: of a scoop l9 and one of the legs 20 of L-shaped. brackets projecting laterally outwardly from the scoop walls I8. Pins 2| pivotally support the:- scoop for movement between the lifting arms.

The lifting arms are raised and lowered by a pair of upwardly and rearwardly inclined hydraulic cylinders 22, pivotally mounted at their lower ends on a transverse bar 23 supportedin front of the tractor by brackets 24 secured to: the tractor frame 2. The cylinders 22 are connected through suitable conduits and control valves to an oil pump which may constitute'a part of the tractor for operating fluid-pressure operated tractor attachments. The conduits, pump, and associated control valves have not j-been illustrated since they do not constitute any vantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment when read in conjunction, with the accompanying drawings, inv which:

Fi ure l is a side elevati'onal, view of a loading attachment shown in assembled relationshipwith a'tractor, with parts broken away and in section to facilitateillustratmn of the structure;

, Figure 2 is'a perspective'view of an extension unit adapted to be secured to the forward end of the loading attachment, a portionfof the forward end being shown in this figure; and

- Figure 3 in side elevational view of the extension unit of Figure 2 illustrated in assembled .relationship'with the frontportion of a tractor and shown in its transportposition.

v .5 at 3| to the rear ends of upwardly and rearwardly part of the present invention. 1

Piston rods 25, which are slidably retained in hydraulic cylinders 22, carry cross members 26 at their free ends as illustrated in Figure '1. The

lower ends of the cross members are pivotally clearance between the guidemembers and the rear tractor axle housing when the loading attachment is moved to an elevated position.

The upper ends of cross arms 26 are'pivoted When fluid pressure is supplied to the cylin ders 22, the piston rods 25 are moved rearwardly,

exerting lifting forces on the lifting farms-l "and 8 through the lifting rods 32 and uprights, guide members 28 guiding the pivotal'mouement of the cylinders 22 about theirlower pivotal attachments to the tractor.

bers 42 and the apex or front end 45 of the extension unit frame.

A boom 46 of tubular construction is slidably supported for fore and aft longitudinal movement at the forward endof the extension unit frame. The slidable support for the boom includes a tubular sleeve 41 at the apex 45 and another tubu- .lar.sleeve .48rformed aspartbf. a transverse mem- Lber :4 9 :extending between .side meriib'ers 6 intermediate their ends. The boom is held in any preselected longitudinal position by a lock screw 50 threadedly secured in sleeve 41 for engagement .w ith' bobmfll i. nstrengthening truss rod 51 is connectedbetween the ends of the boom in clearancerelationship with sleeves 4'1 and 48. A loop or hitch ring 52,,at the forward end of the boom,

' i's-'adapted foncoiinection to a load carrying unit When the fluid pressure is released fromihehyj draulic cylinders, the lifting arms return to their lowermost ,positions by the .forceofgravity. It is ltobe understood, however, that the arms .may bemoved to -.any elevated .position'between the run line and dottediline positions illustrated 'in Figure 1, and then. may beheld at suchelevated position by the actuation of an associated control valve for regulatingtheflow of fluid to cylinders .322

The. scoop 1.9, pivotallyattached. tothe forward endsof lifting arms Land .8,.does.not comprise any part of ,the present invention and .conseguently will-not be described in detail. The constructionand operation .of the scoop .andt'he'before-described loading attachment are fully disclosed and claimed in the Baker Patent 2,583,079 issued...on .lanuary .22, .l952,-.on..a Loading Machine. It is suflicient for the present purposes to understand thevoveralloperation of the loadin mechanism and thatthe scoopzmay be removed whenever desired to permit the attachment of a forward extension unit to .adapttheloading attachmentfor usein lifting hay and similar materialsto; great heights.

.The forward extension unit, generally designated 35, .is shown in perspective in Figure 2 .pivotally attached to the forward ends l5 oflifting. arms I .and -8. .The extension .unit includes a triangular shaped frame having side. members 3B1-and a base member 31 of .tubular pipe construction. The extension isypivotally supported on,-pins-38.mounted in the front ends l5 of the lifting arms and-extending througnuprightprojleotionsv 3.9; oppositely arranged. onv the side members 36 forwardly: of the .base 31. As result, the

extension unitiis pivotally supportedonthelifting arms. for pivotal. movement, being .in:- substantial longitudinal alignment with 1 the lifting arms its lowered position, this .position being determined .by the engagement 3 of base .member 3! with the undersides-of thelifting arms, as illus- .tratedinFigureZ.

Theiextension unit 35 is .releasably heldinits load-carrying position by a latching mechanism,

including a latch pin 40 and an upright "loopsuch 823, hay fork or grappling hook.

In operation, the extension unit is normally .usedin the position shown-in Figure 2 witlrthe hoomextended allistanc'e providing "for a. esfired elevation of thelloadecairying .unasupp'e Te'djo'n thehitch ringtz. Latch pin l'll'isifully engaged with loop '41 so that-the extension unit is maintained in its position of use withtlielbasei'hinber 3'! bearing against the undersideomen-1 g .air'n's 1 and T8. The loading attachment may .th'efibe operated in'its 'u'sualfashionithe, hyd'raul'i linders and. associated.pistonrod 1imparting raising and lowering. movements to the lifting .r'ods' and lifting. all'ils which transfer tnese'rnevementslrb the forward extensio'n unitgb an asseeiatea loadecarrying unit. .As 'wi be appreciated by those sinned in the art, the extension unit .iiuay be. raised and lowered .by the loadin'gLattacHment to permit the transfer o'f"h'a'y and simmer inaterials .to and .from high ,...places. such .as the tops of hayst'acks.

On completion of the loading of hay orthej. on a hayrack, the tractor on .which the attachment is mounted maybeused .to pullftheloaded hayrack to .any desired .location, To .facllitate the use of the-tractor for pmemgthemem sion unit 351s moved-tea substantially upright transport position as .illustrated' Figure 33. Movement t .this upright pesiti 'n can be ttainedmerlf by. releasin the latch in 40 which permits the .liftinglarin'sl afid'B tomovledownwardl'y under the force of gravity. Bi/[virtue of the pivoted connection .at 43' betw en the extension' .lll'lit .and the lifting rods, this .ecwnward movement .o'f tfie liffiing arfnS automatically .r-

sult'sin an upwardjmevementer the extension liliit about Iii/013538. movement continues until the,pivots.38.and 43 areiii alignment with the lifting arms, as illustratedlin EigureB. In

this aligned position, the weight of theliftirig arms" is' .reiidered ineffective 'to .move the exterisior'ruriit further. Likewise, .on operation of the hydraulic cylinders, the liiie or dir-ectioiiof the It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the extension unit can be easily removed from the loading attachment, and the scoop l9 can be re-assembled with the loading attachment to restore it to its original condition.

In view of the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention provides an eX- tension unit for pivotal connection to a tractor loading attachment which forms a rugged extension for the loading attachment when in its lowered position and which also can be used in an upright transport position for moving hayracks and similar load-carrying devices from place to place.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim:

1. In combination in an extension unit for use with a tractor loading attachment including a pair of parallel longitudinally extending lifting arms and upwardly and rearwardly inclined lifting rods disposed above said lifting arms for cooperative movement therewith in response to the operation of associated hydraulic actuating cylinders, a triangular tubular framework pivotally secured to the outstanding ends of the lifting arms, said frame including a transverse base member engaging the undersides of the lifting arms when said framework is in substantial longitudinal alignment with the lifting arms, latching means associated with the loading attachment and framework to releasably secure said framework in its longitudinally extended position, members secured to and projecting upwardly from said base member of said framework,

the lifting rods of the loading attachment being pivotally secured to the outstanding ends of said upwardly projecting members, an extensible tubular boom slidably secured within said framework for increasing its effective length and ahitching ring secured to the projecting end of said extensible boom.

2. An extension unit for a tractor operated loading attachment comprising an elongated triangular framework including side members joined at a common apex and a transverse base member secured to and extending between said side members at points remote from the apex, pivotal mounting means extending perpendicularly from the top of said framework for pivotally securing said framework to the loading attachment, said transverse base member engaging the undersides of the loading attachment when said framework is in extended position relative thereto, a tubular sleeve secured to the apex of said framework, transverse means including a second tubular "sleeve extending between said side members of said framework at a point spaced from said first named tubular sleeve, an extensible boom slidably supported by said first and second named tubular sleeves, means associated with said framework to secure said boom in a preselected position, and hitching means at the end of said boom projecting from said framework.

3. In combination in an extension unit for use with a tractor loading attachment, including a pair of parallel longitudinally extending lifting arms and upwardly and rearwardly inclined lifting rods disposed above said lifting arms for cooperative movement therewith in response to the operation of associated hydraulic actuating cylinders, a triangular tubular framework including side members joined at a common apex, said framework being pivotally secured to the outstanding ends of the lifting arms, said framework including a transverse base member engaging the under sides of the lifting arms when said framework is in substantial longitudinal alignment with the lifting arms, latching means associated with the loading attachment and framework to releasably secure said framework in its longitudinally extended position, members secured to and projecting upwardly from said base member of said framework, the lifting rods of the loading attachment being pivotally secured to the outstanding ends of said upwardly projecting members, a tubular sleeve secured to the apex of said triangular framework, transverse means including a second tubular sleeve extending between said side members of said framework at a point spaced from said first named tubular sleeve, and an extensible boom slidably supported by said first and second named tubular sleeves, means associated with said framework to secure said boom in a, preselected position, and hitching means at the end of said boom projecting from said framework.

4. In combination in an extension unit for use with a tractor loading attachment including a pair of parallel longitudinally extending lifting arms and upwardly and rearwardly inclined lifting rods disposed above said lifting arms for cooperative movement therewith in response to the operation of associated hydraulic actuating cylinders, a triangular tubular framework pivotally secured to the outstanding ends of the lifting arms, said framework, including a transverse base member engaging the undersides of the lifting arms when said framework is in substantial longitudinal alignment with the lifting arms, latching means associated with the loading attachment and framework to releasably secure said framework to its longitudinally extended position, and members secured to and projecting upwardly from said basemember of said framework, the lifting rods of the loading attachment being pivotally secured to the outstanding ends of said. upwardly projecting members.

GERALD T. BAKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent Ulrich Mar. 10, 1953 

